Tim Scott: Marco Rubio for president

posted at 2:41 pm on February 2, 2016 by Allahpundit

There was some surprise last night when Scott’s endorsement was announced, although Hot Air readers knew it was more or less in the bag a month ago. (Scott appeared at a Rubio rally in South Carolina in mid-December.) The news leaked as the votes were being counted in Iowa, which started some speculation that Team Rubio thought they were going to underperform and needed positive buzz to distract from the results. So much for that theory. I think the real message of announcing Scott’s endorsement during the Iowa vote was that Rubio’s in this for the long haul. He’s already looking past New Hampshire to Scott’s home state of South Carolina. And of course it’s an implicit rebuke to Cruz, who hasn’t landed the endorsement of a single Senate colleague (yet). Scott is respected on the right as a “true conservative,” a tea-party favorite who, in theory, should be with Cruz. Nope. Team Rubio. For Cruz’s Senate endorsements, it may be Jeff Sessions or bust.

In many ways Scott is the perfect Rubio endorsement. He’s got the sort of conservative cred that Rubio once had among his detractors on the right and is trying to rebuild after the Gang of Eight debacle. He’s an influential officeholder from an early primary state. Like Rubio, he comes from a humble background and has risen to hold high federal office, the American dream in action. And of course he’s living proof that the GOP isn’t exclusively a party of old white guys. Emily Zanotti notes the symbolism:

Senator Tim Scott is the first black Senator [since Reconstruction] elected from the “deep south.” He was appointed, initially, by a female governor, herself a woman of color, a child of immigrants and a Catholic. He is throwing his support behind the Hispanic son of immigrants who escaped Communist Cuba, the night after more than 60% of Republican Iowa caucus-goers voted for a minority – Hispanic, black, or female – to win the Presidential nomination. Even if you’re not a fan of Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Dr. Ben Carson or Carly Fiorina, you have to appreciate what that means for the “party of old white people.” Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, both lily-white septugenarians – literally old white people – are arguing over .4% of a vote that drew only half as many caucus-goers as in 2008, flipping coins for delegates and lobbing accusations of voter fraud.

Rubio’s running as the future of the party, on a message of opportunity. Who better to echo that than Tim Scott? The money line: “It’s not about where you start, it’s about where you’re going.” His other core point here is electability, which you’ll hear again and again from Team Marco as they veer towards a long war with Cruz. Ace objects that Rubio’s electability is overstated given his tepid reception among Republican voters so far. Fair enough, but there is data suggesting that he’d appeal more to key groups in the general election than Cruz or Trump would. I don’t take “electability” claims as an insult to my intelligence, just a tactful reminder that not all constituencies are as willing or unwilling to support a candidate as grassroots conservatives might be. Which is not to say that those claims should be taken at face value: The best way to prove you’re electable is to, um, win some elections. Big test for Rubio coming up in New Hampshire and South Carolina.

So, as the candidates arm up for war in South Carolina, that makes Scott for Rubio, Lindsey Graham for Jeb Bush (giggle), and Lt. Gov. Henry McMaster for Trump. There’s still a major wild card out there who I once thought for sure would line up for Rubio but lately have begun to doubt. Which way is Nikki Haley going? She’s not going to wimp out and refuse to endorse in the primary, is she?

Update: Whoops — forgot that Trey Gowdy is already on Team Rubio too. And if Jeb flames out in New Hampshire, Graham could be aboard the Rubio express by the time South Carolina votes.

Exactly Rubio is a conservative wet dream. Trump will destroy the USA. Rubio will save us importing 10s of millions of Democrat voters and welfare dependents is definitely how you expand the Republican brand and restore fiscal sanity. He’s a neo con so he’s tough on terror bomb them over there then bring em here just brilliant! Primary over Weepy Marco ftw

Plus with Bush years back but younger and sexier let’s not forget his parting gift Obama! Think how awesome the Democrat after Rubio will be voted for by our New Americans! What vision! What a show of bipartisan compromise! Bend over America Rubio is a coming!

Exactly Rubio is a conservative wet dream. Trump will destroy the USA. Rubio will save us importing 10s of millions of Democrat voters and welfare dependents is definitely how you expand the Republican brand and restore fiscal sanity. He’s a neo con so he’s tough on terror bomb them over there then bring em here just brilliant! Primary over Weepy Marco ftw

Just like we had to elect Romney, and McCain, and Bush. They’re all birds of the same feather.

No wonder we lose all the time.

darwin on February 2, 2016 at 6:17 PM

Meh. You’re arguing with people who are essentially Democrats; it’s a waste of time. For them, the problem with things like the Iran deal and the TPP is that it wasn’t passed by a Republican, not that they were done at all.

The Scandalous DJT [email protected] 7m7 minutes ago
Cruz and Trump, together, have like 55% support, so if you’re still STUNNED that people could support them, the problem lies with you.

d1carter on February 2, 2016 at 6:21 PM

Ace still in denial about what Rubio’s near-win means, I see.

Well, Cruz supporters will get a dose of reality if Rubio takes New Hampshire.

Were you anti-establishment all this time – not including when you were a “Cruz supporter” – You hate the establishment now, huh?
If I remember correctly you were the first of the “Cruz supporters” but you got outed early – you paved the way here for all the other “Cruz supporters” though.

Why is it all the supposed CruzBots are sweet on Rubio? How’d that happen?

Whether it’s Rubio, Cruz, or Trump, the flow of illegals will be curtailed. A fence and strict enforcement of the border, mandatory e-verify with steep penalties, detain and deport, no welfare entitlements, etc. Stop the flow in and dry up the economic well that sustains the illegals here now. Those who believe only Trump can solve the illegal immigration problem (i.e. his pledge to immediately deport all the illegals) are living in Fantasyland.

Meh. You’re arguing with people who are essentially Democrats; it’s a waste of time. For them, the problem with things like the Iran deal and the TPP is that it wasn’t passed by a Republican, not that they were done at all.

Rush was propping up Trump for business reasons before, but now…NOW…we gotta listen to him when he spells out the reasons to support Rubio. I mean no way would Rush be a Rubio fan for the same monetary reasons he was a Trump fan.

Whether it’s Rubio, Cruz, or Trump, the flow of illegals will be curtailed. A fence and strict enforcement of the border, mandatory e-verify with steep penalties, detain and deport, no welfare entitlements, etc. Stop the flow in and dry up the economic well that sustains the illegals here now. Those who believe only Trump can solve the illegal immigration problem (i.e. his pledge to immediately deport all the illegals) are living in Fantasyland.

Whether it’s Rubio, Cruz, or Trump, the flow of illegals will be curtailed. A fence and strict enforcement of the border, mandatory e-verify with steep penalties, detain and deport, no welfare entitlements, etc. Stop the flow in and dry up the economic well that sustains the illegals here now. Those who believe only Trump can solve the illegal immigration problem (i.e. his pledge to immediately deport all the illegals) are living in Fantasyland.

Feb 02, 2016 at 6:28 pm Dan333
Yeah Rubio did a great job going after illegals and sanctuary cities as Speaker of the Florida house. He buried taking any action against them! We’ll fix the problem with a guy who ignored the problem and when elected Senator tried to make the problem worse! Yeehaw!

Yeah Rubio did a great job going after illegals and sanctuary cities as Speaker of the Florida house. He buried taking any action against them! We’ll fix the problem with a guy who ignored the problem and when elected Senator tried to make the problem worse! Yeehaw!

LeeBelieu on February 2, 2016 at 6:37 PM

I did some research on his record as Speaker when he was running for Senate against Crist. He’s always been pro-amnesty. You’re right, he was a natural for the gang of 8.

I think he’d like to support Trump, but for political reasons may not.

bluefox on February 2, 2016 at 6:19 PM

Sessions has already supported Trump quite a bit, going to his rally, lending him a staffer, etc. He probably won’t endorse Trump for the time being, which isn’t necessary anyway. Sessions doesn’t do much for Trump in the next states up.

I have not seen one poll that lists immigration as the number one issue among all voters, or even just Republicans. It never rises above 15% in either group and is always behind the economy and terrorism. Further, there is no poll showing that even a sizeable minority wants to deport them all. Never heard so much chatter about an issue that isn’t going to decide the election.

I have not seen one poll that lists immigration as the number one issue among all voters, or even just Republicans. It never rises above 15% in either group and is always behind the economy and terrorism. Further, there is no poll showing that even a sizeable minority wants to deport them all. Never heard so much chatter about an issue that isn’t going to decide the election.

Well, I have a question or opinion. Wasn’t Rubio’s parents both born in Cuba? How does that qualify him to be President of the U.S.?

bluefox on February 2, 2016 at 6:56 PM

One of the best articles on this issues by a law professor said that at the time of the drafting of the Constitution, the framers would have understood that the term Natural Born Citizen to include people of foreign-born parents who were born here pursuant to English common law as it existed then. Therefore, Rubio is a NBC. According to the article, Cruz would not have been considered a NBC under English common law because he was born to a foreign father outside the US. I think a court would uphold Cruz’s NBC status, but the issue is not settled.

Give me a break. Rush has been propping up a guy he knows isn’t a conservative to get ratings and now it’s time to stop the charade. He knows that.

AYNBLAND on February 2, 2016 at 6:15 PM

I don’t listen to talk radio, but I read Rush transcripts occasionally. I figured he was pushing Trump for the ratings, and now he has to back off. No matter what candidate one prefers, we have all learned lessons about the talking heads/opinion shapers.

Sessions has already supported Trump quite a bit, going to his rally, lending him a staffer, etc. He probably won’t endorse Trump for the time being, which isn’t necessary anyway. Sessions doesn’t do much for Trump in the next states up.

cimbri on February 2, 2016 at 6:47 PM

Yes, he has. I think Sessions would help Trump, when you consider that the N.E. States have had an influx of illegals. Not sure about S. Carolina. I would think every State should be concerned about the illegals and terrorists coming into our Country. Immigration was the first thing Trump came out about. These johnny come lately’s about building a Wall and exporting illegals etc had years to do it and didn’t even talk about it until Trump jumped into the P. race.

And he’s got a bridge in Brooklyn that he’ll sell you for an unbelievable price.

Dan333 on February 2, 2016 at 6:44 PM

The President is the head of the Executive Branch. The Executive Branch is in charge of executing the law. Existing immigration law states that illegal aliens SHALL be deported where found. Why is your guy even running for office, admitting he can’t do the job? Why are you gloating over an admitted loser?

At least Trump is promising to enforce the law. What do you have, insults? Nice way to attract voters to win in the general.

I would have thought Rubio with no U.S. Citizen parent would have disqualified him.

Hopefully it will be settled sometime:-)

bluefox on February 2, 2016 at 7:59 PM

Um he was born in Florida. There isn’t even a question about anyone but Cruz. Who was born in Canada. I know it’s hard but try to keep up. Rubio and Trump are Americans by birth, not dual citizens of any where else.

It reminds me of when Trey Gowdy went all towing the Bush 43 / Chamber line that Illegal Aliens were all awesome and such because they were doing the job Americans won’t do. Gowdy was supposed to be the great challenger to Lindsey Grahamn. Both of them, worthless.

Get the Americans’ arses off of Welfare and get them out picking the crops, and THEN we won’t have to worry about cotton-pickers.

Our politicians are just whores for their business buddies.

The Republic is dead. And we help kill it everytime we vote for these losers.